DeSantis signs ban on homeless people camping in Florida public spaces

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill Wednesday that bans homeless people from camping in the state’s public spaces.

“Florida will not allow homeless encampments to intrude on its citizens or undermine their quality of life like we see in states like New York and California,” DeSantis said in a statement. “The legislation I signed today upholds our commitment to law and order while also ensuring homeless individuals have the resources they need to get back on their feet.”

The bill, H.B. 1365, will take effect Oct. 1. Under the legislation, homeless people are prohibited from camping on city streets, sidewalks and in parks. The shelters they will instead be placed in will be monitored by law enforcement agencies, DeSantis’s release said.

It requires municipalities to create designated spaces for camping and sleeping if homeless shelters are full. The spaces must have access to “clean and operable restrooms and running water.”

The sites also must have security present at all times and access to behavioral health services, including substance abuse and mental health resources, according to the legislation. Drug and alcohol use on the properties will not be tolerated, and officials will “enforce this prohibition.”

In a post online, DeSantis released facts about the state’s homeless population. It said that even though Florida is the third most populous state in the country, it does not have a city on the top 10 of homeless populations. The release also said while Florida’s total population “has increased, the state has experienced one of the largest decreases in the homelessness rate” since 2019.

Democrat lawmakers said the bill was proposed despite there being no studies or data to support it, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

“The lawlessness seen in ‘progressive’ cities–sprawling encampments, open-air drug markets, and homeless people endangering themselves and others–is entirely preventable,” DeSantis posted on X, formerly Twitter. “We won’t stand for it in Florida, and our action today is one of many steps we’re taking to keep our cities clean and safe for everyone.”